An Ottawa Senators win against the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight would officially clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
With a 42-29-6 record and 90 points heading into the final stretch of the regular season, the team currently holds the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. There are three ways the Senators can clinch tonight:
- A win over the Blue Jackets.
- If they get one point in their game AND the Red Wings lose in overtime.
- A Red Wings regulation loss.
The Senators’ recent form has played a major role the team advancing toward this achievement. They’ve won three straight games, including back-to-back shutouts against. Most recently, goaltender Linus Ullmark made 30 saves in Sunday’s victory over the Blue Jackets that contributed to a 153-minute shutout streak.
With five games remaining, there’s more at stake than just punching a ticket to the postseason. The Senators are within two points of the third-place Florida Panthers in the Atlantic Division and just four back of the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning, leaving room for movement in the standings.
One possible playoff scenario that has caught the attention of fans and analysts alike is a first-round matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ottawa swept the season series 3-0, outscoring Toronto 9-3. It would be the first playoff meeting between the two teams since 2004.
As the regular season winds down, the Senators are in a strong position. Whether they can secure a higher seed or simply focus on finishing the season healthy and sharp, the coming days will determine not just if — but how — they’ll return to the postseason.
